Bishr bin Haarith (rahimahullah), famously known as Bishr Haafi, was a scholar of hadeeth, an ascetic, and a great friend of Allah Ta‘ala. He passed away on a Friday in the month of Rabee‘ul Awwal 227 A.H. at the age of seventy five. (Siyaru ‘Aalaamin Nubalaa vol. 10, pg. 469)
In his early days, Bishr Haafi (rahimahullah) led a life of vice and sin, engaging in impermissible enjoyment and entertainment. On one occasion, whilst he and his friends were drinking wine and enjoying themselves, a pious person walked by and knocked on the door. The slave girl of Bishr Haafi (rahimahullah) went out and the pious man enquired, “Is the owner of this house a free person or a slave?” She replied, “He is a free person.” The pious man affirmed her reply saying, “You have spoken the truth. If he was a slave he would have adopted the etiquette of servitude (to Allah Ta‘ala) and he would have shunned entertainment and amusement!”
Bishr Haafi (rahimahullah) overheard the conversation and rushed to the door barefooted and bareheaded (hoping to see who was the speaker of such powerful words of wisdom), but the pious man had already left. He enquired from the slave girl, “Who was the person who spoke to you at the door?” She informed him about what had transpired and pointed out to him the direction in which the pious man had gone.
Bishr Haafi (rahimahullah) followed the direction, aspiring to meet the pious man. When he caught up with him, he said, “O my master, are you the one who stood at my door and spoke to the slave girl?” “Yes” he replied. Bishr (rahimahullah) then requested him to repeat the words of wisdom which he had spoken earlier. When the pious man repeated the words, it had such an effect on Bishr Haafi (rahimahullah) that he began rubbing his cheek on the ground, repeating the words, “Rather (I am) a slave, (I am) a slave!” This was the turning point in his life.
Thereafter, he used to spend his days barefooted until he became known as “Haafi” – the barefooted one. He was once asked, “Why do you not wear shoes?” He replied, “(The reason is) because I made peace with my master (i.e. Allah Ta‘ala) while I was barefooted. Therefore, I will not leave this condition until death!”
(Kitaabut Tawwaabeen pg. 153 and Hadaaiqul Awliyaa – Ibnul Mulaqqin vol. 1, pg. 57)
NB: Another reason for his repentance is also recorded in the books of history which can be found here.
Lessons:
1. There are no “write-offs” in the court of Allah Ta‘ala. Hence, no matter how sinful a person may be, and the types of vice in which he may be involved in, there is always hope for him, not only to change, but to even become a close friend of Allah Ta‘ala. There are many such examples in our history, and Bishr Haafi (rahimahullah) is one of the outstanding ones.
2. In life, Allah Ta‘ala will send reminders to us in different ways. Sometimes it will be in the form of an Islamic article that we read or a lecture that we listen to. On other occasions, it could be by means of the advice of a sincere friend, or the sudden death of a dear one. If we appreciate these reminders and take lesson from them, we will benefit tremendously and make positive changes in our lives. On the other hand, if we adopt a ‘stubborn’ attitude, and even take offence to the advice, we will remain on the wrong path, which will ultimately lead us to our peril and destruction.
3. The highest honour for a person is in him being a true slave of Allah Ta‘ala. When he abandons the slavery of Allah Ta‘ala, he will be enslaved by his own carnal desires, by the pressures of society, and by every other thing. Although he may assume that he is free, he will be enslaved to a greater extent. This ‘freedom’ is actually a great disgrace in this world, as well as the next.
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